Audio CD review:
Jerome Kern, Barbara Cook, John Raitt, Anita Darian, William Warfield, Louise Parker, Fay DeWitt, Oscar Hammerstein II, The Merrill Staton Choir - Show Boat (1962 Studio Cast Recording)

Jerome Kern, Barbara Cook, John Raitt, Anita Darian, William Warfield, Louise Parker, Fay DeWitt, Oscar Hammerstein II, The Merrill Staton Choir - Show Boat (1962 Studio Cast Recording)

Band: Jerome Kern, Barbara Cook, John Raitt, Anita Darian, William Warfield, Louise Parker, Fay DeWitt, Oscar Hammerstein II, The Merrill Staton Choir Title: Show Boat (1962 Studio Cast Recording) Rating: Release Date: 30 May, 2000 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Overture 2: Cotton Blossom 3: Where's The Mate For Me? 4: Make Believe 5: Ol' Man River 6: Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man 7: Life Upon The Wicked Stage 8: You Are Love 9: Finale Act I 10: Opening Act II: Sports Of Gay Chicago 11: Why Do I Love You? 12: Bill 13: After The Ball 14: Finale Act II 15: Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (Mono) - Tess Gardella 16: Bill (Mono) - Helen Morgan 17: I Still Suits Me (Mono) - Paul Robeson 18: Nobody Else But Me (Mono) - Jan Clayton/Chorus

Editoral Review This 1962 studio cast stars John Raitt as Ravenal, Barbara Cook as Magnolia, William Warfield as Joe, and Anita Darian as Julie. While there's not much dispute that Show Boat marked the dawn of the modern musical theater, its 1927 vintage means it's never had an original cast recording to consider definitive, although there have been various revival, studio, and film casts, as well as John McGlinn's outstanding three-disc reconstruction and compilations of early recordings. It's a good cast--Cook and Warfield subsequently appeared in the 1966 revival--but it just seems a bit polite and safe compared to the darker, totally immersing experience of McGlinn's set. Still, if you're simply looking for a single well-sung, reasonably priced disc of the many Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II favorites, this may well fill the bill. The 2000 reissue includes original and new liner notes and four interesting bonus tracks: the original Queenie, Tess Gardella, singing "Can't Help Loving Dat Man"; the original Julie, Helen Morgan, singing "Bill"; Paul Robeson singing "I Still Suits Me," written for the 1936 film; and Jan Clayton's "Nobody Else but Me," from the 1946 revival. --David Horiuchi .. You can see a complete list of all Jerome Kern, Barbara Cook, John Raitt, Anita Darian, William Warfield, Louise Parker, Fay DeWitt, Oscar Hammerstein II, The Merrill Staton Choir discography, or go back to the Jerome Kern, Barbara Cook, John Raitt, Anita Darian, William Warfield, Louise Parker, Fay DeWitt, Oscar Hammerstein II, The Merrill Staton Choir tabs